Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said that the United States’ alliance with South Korea will emphasize deterring the threats emerging from North Korea.
“There was a reason why it was fitting that we went to the DMZ [demilitarized zone] yesterday. It reminds you of the core of this alliance, that ultimately it’s holding the line and protecting our ally from the DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea]; it’s what we have been and continue to be oriented on,” Hegseth told reporters.
He emphasized there are “also a lot of threats in the world which we’re prepared for, and we’ve had a lot of good faith conversations, but centered around ensuring that the ROK is able to, as we move forward, work with them, lead the conventional defense here on the peninsula against North Korea.”
Hegseth further honored South Korea for taking action to bolster its defense spending, reiterating his acknowledgement that the security environment must be assessed and noting the strength of the U.S.-South Korean alliance. “Minister Ahn and I agreed to remain clear-eyed about the threats that we face, and that’s why we have to continue as we do every single day, as we saw at the DMZ with Korean and U.S. troops standing shoulder to shoulder, working together,” he explained.
Similarly, Hegseth vowed last week to “stoutly defend” its interests in the Indo-Pacific.
Discussing a meeting with China’s Minister of National Defense Admiral Dong Jun, Hegseth asserted the nation “does not seek conflict, it will continue to stoutly defend its interests and ensure it has the capabilities in the region to do so.”
